Thanksgiving at the Wilson-Gray YMCA always comes early [Video]

HARTFORD, Conn. — Staff and volunteers at the Wilson-Gray YMCA in Hartford’s North End are always busy the day before Thanksgiving and this year was no exception.

The team spends the day providing free Thanksgiving meals for the community, with an upwards of 300 meals with side dishes.

“We are just trying to bridge the opportunity gap in any way we can for our community here,” said Diamond Wallen, youth development coordinator at the Wilson-Gray YMCA.

As volunteers lined up to dish out meals, former Bloomfield High School football star and NFL player Matt Lawrence was across the gymnasium with boxes of winter coats to distribute to any kid in need. He was in his Baltimore Ravens warmups for the event.

Lawrence runs an organization called 32 Sports, which is geared to bridge the gap between professional …